Friday, February 10, 2012

3 Giant Snack Mistakes

snacksThis weekend, you may find yourself shopping for snacks for the Super Bowl or for the week ahead.? If you're trying to find a few healthy options, you'll want to avoid making one of these giant snack mistakes.

  • Snack-sized treats. Some manufacturers have begun packaging foods into small sizes and advertising them as low calorie or diet -friendly.? You'll see some "100 calorie packs" on store shelves.? The problem is that most people don't eat just one pack.? The foods are often low in nutrients and high in salt and sugar.? Be sure that you read the nutritional label before you buy and multiply the calorie count by the number of packs you will realistically eat.
  • Fat-free pretzels. The phrase "fat-free" is tempting when it comes to buying diet friendly foods.?? Buyers might be tempted to buy fat-free pretzels instead of potato chips or tortilla strips in an effort to decrease their fat intake.? While this isn't necessarily a bad idea in theory, snackers often fall into the trap of thinking that because a food is fat free that they can eat more of it.? Pretzels are very high in sodium.? This option is likely to leave you loaded up with too many calories and too much salt.
  • Trail Mix. The term "trail mix" seems to be a catchall phrase for any mix of high salt, high fat, high sugar finger foods.? The mixes often contain ingredients that sound healthy, like nuts and granola.? The problem is that most of the foods are very high in fat and calories.? And because it is eaten as finger food, it is easy to overeat.

Looking for some healthier options?? Check out these tips and recipes and remember that portion control is key when losing weight or trying to avoid weight gain.

Photo: Morguefile


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